Collaborative Couple Therapy

My approach is designed to foster a supportive and cooperative environment where both partners are actively involved in the healing process. Together, we work to understand and address the unique challenges in your relationship, emphasizing open communication, mutual respect, and shared goals. By combining evidence-based methods like Gottman Therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), I help couples navigate conflicts, rebuild trust, and strengthen bonds.

n addition to using the Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy model, we also draw from mindfulness and somatic approaches, bringing awareness to what you are experiencing in the present moment. At times we all struggle to understand what it is we are truly feeling. Sitting with emotions, such as sadness, grief and regret, rather than trying to push it all away can give rise to unexpected and wonderful relief. It is said that what we resist persists, but when we’re able to feel through something, we

Problems tend to form through miscommunication. The collaborative approach helps everyone feel heard and understood. As a result, communication begins to improve, and problems begin to dissolve.

In addition to some well-honed, validated, finely tuned couple-specific modalities, I bring a heavily collaborative perspective to all of my work. Perhaps even more so when there are partners (or others) who feel adversarial -- my goal is to work within each person's strengths and desired outcomes.

Our couples counselors work with you and your partner to build healthy communication skills, enhance intimacy and identify shared values.

In addition to using the Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy model, I also draw from mindfulness and somatic approaches, bringing awareness to what you are experiencing in the present moment. At times we all struggle to understand what it is we are truly feeling. Sitting with emotions, such as sadness, grief and regret, rather than trying to push it all away can give rise to unexpected and wonderful relief. It is said that what we resist persists, but when we’re able to feel through something, we

We as individuals form our unique worldviews by the attachment styles we develop with our parents and by the dynamics of our family relationships, friendships, and romantic partnerships throughout our lives. I work collaboratively in partnership with you, honoring your worldview, to recognize what’s going well in your relationship dynamic, explore where and how you and your relationships can grow, and assisting you in deepening connection with your loved ones.

Collaborative Therapy is an approach I take with individuals and couples that emphasizes equal partnership between therapist and client. It involves actively involving the client in the therapeutic process, encouraging open communication, and valuing the client’s insights and lived experiences. By working together as a team, I’ll empower you to take an active role in your healing.

I have found that collaborative couples therapy is the only couples therapy that truly works. Using techniques, such as Gottman, guides the way, but ultimately being able to teach couples to work collaboratively is what gets them the results they want.

I believe that the core of a relationship is connection. I will use the strengths of the couple to assist the couple in collaborating on conflict resolution. In my experience, couples tend to get stuck on opposing forces, rather than learning how to work together as a support system to work through happy times, sad times, and all the times in between.

I routinely saw couples during my postdoctoral training in sex therapy, and continue to work with couples wishing to enhance intimacy and connection inside and outside of the bedroom. Some common topics I work with couples on include repair from boundary violations (eg, infidelity), setting new boundaries, navigating conflict, developing empathy for one another, and recognizing when old/harmful relational patterns are surfacing in present relationships.

I have focused on helping couples shift from an adversarial or withdrawn pattern of relationships to a more collaborative one.

A large majority of my client base is couples. I am currently working as a marriage therapist at The Relationship Institute in Royal Oak, Michigan.